They f'd up 12 days since Microsoft f'd up
Killed 0.1 Vistas Stood by it officially acknowledged Sep 1, 2023 their #29 worst kill on record

WordPad outlived Clippy, but not the roadmap

Microsoft deprecated and removed WordPad from Windows

↳ caused by WordPad deprecation notice ↗

The market's verdict: +0.7% on MSFT in the week after.

Status: Stood by it. Working as intended™

What actually happened

WordPad has shipped with Windows since 95. In September 2023, Microsoft announced it was going away, and newer Windows builds no longer include it. The official recommendation is to use Microsoft Word instead. Word costs money. The free thing that opened your files is gone, and the paid thing that opens your files is right over there. Working as intended.

This one is officially acknowledged.

They did it more than once

Before that: Microsoft tried to retire Paint; the internet RSVP'd for the funeral (Jul 2017)

First attempt flinched under backlash. Second attempt shipped quietly years later.

Links

↳ caused by WordPad deprecation notice

Timeline

  • Sep 1, 2023 Stood by it Microsoft stood by it.